Residents of the Mineola School District will vote on Tuesday, June 24 for a proposed budget for the 2003-2004 school year. The proposed budget calls for $62,376,459 in expenditures, $3,198,969 more than the current school year's budget or a 5.41 percent increase.

According to the Mineola School District, the proposed 5.41 increase in expenditures is 15th lowest out of 56 in Nassau County in terms of spending. The major increases in spending are attributed to increases in the costs of medical insurance, the district's contribution to the teacher retirement system and debt service.

The proposed budget calls for a 5.41 percent spending increase. However, the tax levy, which is the amount of the budget that will be paid for with tax dollars, will increase by 8 percent. According to the district, the 8 percent increase is still below the Nassau County average.

The district and board of education believe they have submitted to the public a fiscally conservative budget. However, the public did not respond to it on June 3 when the budget was first voted on as the budget failed by a 979-852 margin.

The district and board felt there was nothing that could be cut from the budget without jeopardizing services so the same budget that first failed is being put before voters again.

The polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. The vote will take place in the elementary school so residents will vote in the elementary attendance zone in which they reside.

The Mineola School District and the Board of Education honored Edward Kaiser in recognition of his accomplishments as a Boy Scout. Eddie attained the level of Eagle Scout, which is an enormous accomplishment. His Eagle Scout project was the September 11 monument that currently stands in Mineola's Memorial Park.

In addition to his achievements as a scout, Eddie has also excelled in the Mineola Schools. He is the salutatorian for the Class of 2003 and was also a member of the varsity baseball team and boys winter track team. Eddie also won the Presidential Humanitarian Award in November 2002. He is known as an outstanding member of the school community.

The Mineola Board of Education granted tenure to three teachers. ESL teacher Daniela Coloma and social studies teacher Krista O'Donnell of Mineola Middle School as well as elementary teacher Staci Durnin were all granted tenure. The board and district hired George Marzuk to be the new Director of Personnel and Communications. Mr. Marzuk, who comes to Mineola from the Connetquot School District, will handle personnel issues including contracts. He is said to be highly skilled in the area of human resources. At the June 5 board of education meeting, it was announced that the district estimates its graduation rate for 2003 to be about 82 percent. Out of 182 students, 149 will be graduating, 18 were on the fence and 15 would not be graduating. The figures represent all students who entered ninth grade in 1999 regardless of where they went to school prior to coming to Mineola.